First Maori Superhero to Save Hawaiki on Maori TV

PUBLICITY RELEASE
FOR RELEASE WEEK MON JULY 11 TO SUN JULY 17

First Maori Superhero to Save Hawaiki on Maori Television

The scene is Auckland in the year 3001 and there is about to be a battle of epic proportions as Hawaiki lays ravaged by the great struggle of Moko Toa and Hara. Will the first Maori superhero lay claim to victory? Or will the forces of light succumb to the dark strength of the evil Hara?

Find out on the full-length feature THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF MOKO TOA, screening on Maori Television on Sunday July 17 at 9.00 PM.

Featuring dynamic characters and a mix of actors and animations, wondrous creatures and talking carvings, the mystical world of future Aotearoa comes alive in the Te Haeata Productions animation film, based on the successful Mai Time five-minute animation segments.

Rawiri Tai Tin plays 16-year-old Hori who is faced with a sticky situation when his parents decide to send him ‘home’ to the country and away from the bad influences of the city. He meets his enigmatic cousin Hara (played by Miriama Smith), who coerces him into plundering an ancient burial cave, where he uncovers a greenstone taonga.

In a flash, he is swept back to the mythical homeland of Hawaiki and the serious fun and games begin. Here, the forces of light and dark are in constant battle and Hori is the world of light’s only hope.

He is gifted with two sacred huia feathers, instantly transforming into the mighty Moko Toa – the tattooed warrior who wields ancient powers.

THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF MOKO TOA was written several years ago as a feature film script, but only surfaced in 1998 when the Mai Time programme was looking to include a five-minute animation segment.

Director Rangitawea Reedy enlisted the creative minds of Hineani Melbourne (producer), Jon Coutts (co-writer) and Guy Moana (designer) to design and destroy worlds filled with a range of imaginary and mythical creatures.

“The Maori culture is an amazing base upon which we can build. We had to turn around and make what we could see in our mind’s eye come alive on screen for viewers,” he says.

THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF MOKO TOA was designed to attract and hold the attention of young Maori and to promote the Maori language as ‘cool’ and desirable.

THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF MOKO TOA will screen in all its superhero glory on Sunday July 17 at 9.00 PM.

Ends

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF MOKO TOA

Year 1998
Censor General Exhibition (G)
Duration 1.5 hour feature film
Language Maori language

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